On the evening of May 14, a ceremony was held to sign a five-year extension of the research framework agreement between CRIEPI and EC-JRC. Participants included Dr. Roland Schenkel, Director General of the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Community (EC).

Earlier, on the morning of the same day, Dr. Schenkel visited the Abiko district with Dr. Frigola, an international relations and nuclear energy policy advisor, and Dr. Philippe de Taxis du Poët, First Counsellor of the Delegation of the European Commission in Japan.

They were shown a vibration testing building, a presentation on global warming research using a ball-shaped projector, an environmental wind tunnel system, and bio-related research facilities. They expressed a strong interest in CRIEPI's research, engaging in earnest discussion with the researchers.

Dr. Schenkel offered a high appraisal of the research exchange to date, noting that this extension of the framework is also a highly significant outcome for JRC. He agreed to facilitate workshops in fields other than nuclear power, including the environmental field, and to promote further mutual exchanges.

At the dinner following the signing ceremony, Dominique Ristori, Deputy Director-General of the EC Directorate-General for Energy and Transport (DG-TREN) also took part, and there was a lively exchange of opinion about the energy situation and research cooperation between Europe and Japan.